Self-confessed hacker Gary McKinnon's final appeal to be tried
in Britain was turned down this afternoon. He is expected to be
extradited to the US within days, where he faces charges that he
was responsible for "the
greatest military hack in history".
A statement from Gary McKinnon's lawyers, Kaim Todner, said,
"The secretary of state has advised via the Treasury solicitors
that despite Mr McKinnon's diagnosis with Asperger's Syndrome [an
autistic condition] she will now be making arrangements for his
extradition based on her order for extradition of 4 July 2006.
"She has failed to make any request for repatriation to the US
when other countries make similar requests on behalf of their
citizens."
McKinnon's attorney, Karen Todner, said she has asked Secretary
of State Jacqui Smith for permission to seek a judicial review of
the decision to extradite McKinnon. Smith will give her decison
tomorrow morning.
If granted, McKinnon will have 14 days to apply for the review,
which will be held by the High Court. If he decides not to ask for
the review he will have 10 days to prepare himself for
extradition.
Todner described McKinnon as "devasted". "He has been suffering
from depression for several months now," she said.
She added she was "optimistic" that Smith would grant permission
for the judicial review.
McKinnon has
failed in his appeal against extradition in every available court
in the UK and Europe.
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